Wednesday, March 11, 2009

10 Dead in Alabama Shooting

It sounds eerily familiar, doesn't it. This might turn out like the disgruntled ex-employee who went off the deep end in L.A. over being fired. At that time we said we've probably not seen the last of this, what with the economy the way it is. In this case we just don't know yet; it's too early.

What we do know is that he had some pretty serious firepower.

The gunman ended up at the Reliable Metal Products plant in Geneva, where police rammed his vehicle, forcing him to get out. He fired a 30-round burst with what appeared to be an M16, grazing Police Chief Frankie Lindsey with a bullet.

"Then the subject entered the business. Within minutes, shots were heard. ... Law enforcement officers found him dead,"

Earlier in the CNN report they referred to the murder weapon as a "semi-automatic." Also the spokesman for the State Police on the video said that. But, "[h]e fired a 30-round burst with what appeared to be an M16," sounds to me like fully-automatic. What do you think? Aren't the M16s made with a switch that toggles between semi- and fully-automatic?

I often seem to be repeating myself, but I think it bears repeating. The availability of the gun often plays a part in these tragedies. Guns like this, which are primarily made for killing humans, are too accessible, in my opinion. What's your thought?

14 comments:

Now we get to see the rationalizations of the per capita rate of violent incidents like this in America as compared to other societies.I can't wait to hear this compared to European Soccer violence....

Microdot said: I can't wait to hear this compared to European Soccer violence....

Don't need to. Just look at the news this morning: Ten Dead in German School Shooting. You know, Germany, where they have all of the European gun control that reduces the availability of firearms so they can't have mass shootings like the evil, uneducated, unenlightened United States.

Aren't the M16s made with a switch that toggles between semi- and fully-automatic?

Didn't you claim to be a Marine? Unless you were in the Service a very long time ago, didn't you TRAIN on the M-16?

There are a couple of variations of the M-16; one that can change between semi & full automatic and one that can change from semi to 3 round burst.

What is truly pathetic is your unwillingness to learn even the basic about what you are talking about. It is sad that you won't take the time to learn about the subject when you are trying to take away our rights.

The availability of the gun often plays a part in these tragedies.

SO AGAIN, for the 2,256th time (some exaggeration possible,but not much) WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO ABOUT IT?

You talk and and talk and talk and talk and talk but you never get around to talking about how we deal with the issue.

"Earlier in the CNN report they referred to the murder weapon as a "semi-automatic." Also the spokesman for the State Police on the video said that. But, "[h]e fired a 30-round burst with what appeared to be an M16," sounds to me like fully-automatic. What do you think? Aren't the M16s made with a switch that toggles between semi- and fully-automatic?"

Well since CNN are usually dead wrong when it comes to guns I'm going to assume they're up to their usual again here. I'd bet money it was a semi-auto AR-15 NOT an M16.

Either way, what difference does it make? FULL AUTO weapons are so highly regulated they're effectively banned. Let's assume it was full auto for the sake of argument. What additional restrictions on NFA items would you propose?

And Mike, weren't you in the military? and you don't know the difference between an M16 and an AR-15. That's pretty damn sad.

Bob said, "Didn't you claim to be a Marine? Unless you were in the Service a very long time ago, didn't you TRAIN on the M-16?

Mike W. said, "And Mike, weren't you in the military? and you don't know the difference between an M16 and an AR-15. That's pretty damn sad."

First of all, I'd like to say, I never "claimed to be anything." I shared with you, Bob, that I'd been in the Marines when we talked about your son. (How's he doing by the way? Is he staying Stateside? Would he prefer to experience the war zones?)

My military career was a long time ago, 1970 - 1972. My graduating class from Parris Island was the first one in five or six years that didn't all go to Viet Nam. I stayed here. MOS, radio telegraph operator, which you asked about on another thread. I learned Morse Code, among other useful skills.

The truth is it seems like more than 39 years ago, it seems like another lifetime. My memory is a bit hazy, but I think we trained with the M14 for drill and the M16 at the range, but I'm not sure.

I think there was a switch on one of them to select full-auto, but I could be mistaken. And although it might seem sad to you, Mike, I never heard of an AR-15 till I met you guys on the internet.

Bob, I'm taking a moment out of our never-ending discussion to express to you my sincerest condolences for your dad's passing. I read your request for prayers last week on Weer'd's site, I was one who responded to that call.

Japan sounds like a great duty station for your son. My prayers and good wishes go out to him too.

It was most likely an AR-15. While I have not heard much about the subject, I doubt a civilian could get a M-16. As for the 30 round burst that was fired. Well, the only way that could of happened is if someone had illegally changed the firing pin, altered it, or possibly if it happened to be wore out. Now I am no expert in such matters. But take this for what it is worth. Do not believe everything you see and hear on the news.

I would like to consider us friends. I'm concerned that someone I would like to be friends with has such problems accepting reality.

That said, thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

Our prayers for Dad were answered. He was never going to completely recover from his Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), he went peacefully in his sleep after a short stay in the hospital. I appreciate your prayers for us.

My son isn't sure about Japan yet, there is a young lady he is semi-serious about here. Japan is a long way from home so he was hoping for something closer. I, on the other hand, am tickled pink. This is an ideal assignment for a youngster having to learn to live on his own. There is definitely no running home to momma on the weekend.

I know kids have to leave the nest and grow up at some point, but when still a teen, it seems a little young to be exposed to all the things one is exposed to in the military.

What about the fact that it's all volunteer these days? Do you think that's lowered the quality and intelligence of the average recruit? In my day there were still some drafted guys, which supposedly gave the armed forces a better cross section of the society at large. What do you think?

The all volunteer military is actually a better cross section then the draft provided.

The draft had exemptions for college, anyone with any money and a desire to avoid service simply stayed in college.

Every bit of research shows that today's military is a better representation then any previous non-world war generation.

As far as being too young, bunk.

The problem isn't we are exposing our kids to too much responsibility but too little. Society, and people like you, are trying to keep people as children for ever. This is a problem, delaying accepting responsibility for their actions.

When I was in the service, as a teenager, I worked with 76 pilots. I was responsible for their flight gear. That responsibility helped me mature, faster and in better ways then my peers who weren't in the military.

In less then a couple of years, I was responsible for over $6 million dollars worth of survival gear. Knowing that people I trusted and respected, thought I was responsible gave me confidence.

Again the difference between my non-military peers was vast. Growing up isn't a bad thing, on the contrary it is a tremendous advantage in life.

On the whole, the military serves as a way of separating those that want to take the responsibility and those that don't. While there are different responsibilities, the military provides a person with the greatest range of experiences, skills, and opportunities to exhibit that responsibility.